Grano de Oro - Lima & Palomino Islands
Prony Bay has a quiet magic, and Le Sournois is arguably its brightest spark. We love dropping onto this reef's edge, knowing we’re about to be swallowed by fish. The site caps out at around 18 metres, but the real action happens in the shallower stretches, 6 to 10 metres, where the light plays off the coral heads. Schools of fusiliers are so thick here, they often dim the sunlight for a moment as they swirl past. It’s not just the sheer volume of fish, though; it’s the variety. We’ve finned past honeycomb groupers lurking in crevices, watched ornate pitar venus clams filter feed, and occasionally, if you’re lucky, you might spot a dugong grazing peacefully in the seagrass beds nearby – a rare, gentle encounter. Look closely, and you’ll find brown-banded pipefish camouflaged against the coral. Le Sournois feels like a busy neighbourhood, a constant hum of activity. It’s a site that rewards slow diving, allowing you to absorb the constant motion.
- Location
- Lima & Palomino Islands, Peru, South America
- Coordinates
- -12.492400, -76.800300
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Sistema de Islas, Islotes y Puntas Guaneras
Best Time to Dive in Lima & Palomino Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Lima & Palomino Islands occur in January, averaging 22.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 22.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 22.5°C (air: 19.9°C)
- February: 22.5°C (air: 20.7°C)
- March: 22.5°C (air: 20.8°C)
- April: 22.5°C (air: 19.6°C)
- May: 22.5°C (air: 17.7°C)
- June: 22.5°C (air: 16.8°C)
- July: 22.5°C (air: 16.1°C)
- August: 22.5°C (air: 15.7°C)
- September: 22.5°C (air: 15.4°C)
- October: 22.5°C (air: 15.6°C)
- November: 22.5°C (air: 16.8°C)
- December: 22.5°C (air: 18.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Lima & Palomino Islands
- AMORUSO SECONDO - 5m (wreck)
- Baja Huaman (reef)
- Baja Huaman
- Baja Loca (reef)
- Baja Loca
- Carbón (wall)
- Cerro Partido (reef)
- CHILE - 7m (wreck)
- CHIMBOTE (POSSIBLY) - 10m (wreck)
- DONA AMELIA - 15m (wreck)
- El Chuncho (reef)
- El Dado (reef)
- El Venado (cave)
- Gallinazo
- ISLA SAN GALLAN 5 - 3m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Grano de Oro
- Globotierra Azul
- KangaruPeru
- Lufes A Diver's
- Naylamp Diving - ["PADI"]
- Pacific Divers - ["PADI"]
- RESKIU S.A.C. - SSI
Marine Life in Lima & Palomino Islands
Home to 40 recorded species including 28 reef fish, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 sharks & rays, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Springer (Mugil cephalus) - Reef Fish
- Cabinza Grunt (Isacia conceptionis) - Reef Fish
- Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) - Reef Fish
- Punctuated snake-eel (Ophichthus remiger) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Jack Mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) - Reef Fish
- Pompano (Trachinotus paitensis) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) - Reef Fish
- Mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) - Reef Fish
- American Elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus)
- Jack (Selene peruviana) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) - Reef Fish
- Red Scorpionfish (Pontinus furcirhinus) - Reef Fish
- Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) - Sharks & Rays
- Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis) - Reef Fish
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Scad (Trachurus picturatus) - Reef Fish
- Californian Needlefish (Strongylura exilis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Grano de Oro
Based on average water temperature of 22.5°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 23°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories